Snap switch having a blade torsionally mounted



Nov. 14, 1950 E. A. MILLER 2,529,881

SNAP SWITCH HAVING A BLADE TORSIONALLY MOUNTED Filed Nov. 19, 1947 l 3 5 \4-/\ M- l6 1 I 8 l lllll Mn" 10 3 l3 2 I$A Lug EDWIN Au GU51 MILLER anuantoz Patented Nov. 14, 1950 SNAP SWITCFI HAVING A BLADE TORSIONALLY MOUNTED Edwin August Miller, Fairfield, Conn.

Application November 19, 1947, Serial N0. 786,835

3 Claims.

Thb invention relates to cantilever type of switch blade; its free end having a marginally fixed extremity provided with a. weakened central portion normally in the plane of the blade..

The objects of the invention are to provide a switch blade having integrally therewith a marginally fixed end with a centrally yielding portion in relative lateral alignment with said fixed portion; to provide a base support to which the fixed portion of said extremity is secured; and.

to provide for such support a rigid arm to which the free extremity of a compression arm is hinged,

intermediate the length of the blade.

With reference to the accompanying drawing,

the Figure 1 is a plan view of switch blade the fixed extremity of which is marginally supported by a base and illustrating a central twistable portion of said extremity movably carried with said blade; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device ment with an extension at the rear of the blade thereby eliminating one of said opposing actuators; and Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the device exposing a yoke support for marginal support of fixed extremity of the blade.

With more particular reference to the accompanying drawing, the numeral I designates the switch blade carrying at its free extremity the contact 2. The blade I is provided with marginally positioned companion compression arms (land 4 carried by said free extremity the free ends 5 and 6 of said compression arms 3 and 4 extend midway the length of a central tension arm I of the blade I and laterally spaced therefrom. The extremity 8 of the tension arm I is marginally supported by means of a solid yoke 8 having the upright and relatively spaced pedestals I0 and II upon each of the tops of which the extremity 8 is marginally secured. Centrally, the extremity 8 is provided with a weakened portion 8A by means of cut-out portions at I2 upon both sides of an elongated reinforcing rib formation I3 rigidly extending into the tension arm I so that the weakened portion 8A is integrally connected therewith.

The solid yoke support 9 is provided with a pair of rigid arms I4I5 extending intermediate the length of the device. At the free end of each rigid arm I4I5 there is integral therewith a turned-up extremity MA and I5A of which each the under-surface MB and ISB is provided with an arcuate depression or notch C or ISO within each of which a free extremity 5 or 6 of a companion compression arm 3 or 4, respectively, is received and held under compression.

An actuator l6 movable down upon the switch blade I to assist in moving its free extremity carrying the contacts 2 and 2A from one to the other of relatively spaced stops III 8.

In operation, the actuator I6 is pressed, manually or otherwise, down upon the switch blade I by which the contacts 2 and 2A are carried at the free extremity, the contact 2 being normally in engagement with the stop II. The pressed actuator I6 immediately distorts the tension blade I as the cantilever force overcomes the compression arms 3 and 4 and snaps the free contact carrying extremity of the tension blade I from the stop I! to the other stop I8, the breaking of the contact 2 from the stop I1, and the engagement of the contact 2A with the stop I8 being a sudden movement of snap-acting propensity to which the twistable weakened portion 8A greatly contributes thus eliminating all stiff opposition to the action of the blade.

While the engagement of the contact 2A with the stop I8 is illustrated as a momentary one yet, if it is desired that contact engagement be a maintained one until a reversed operation is had, the opposing actuators I6 and IGA, as illustrated by the Figure 4, may be provided. Also, if opposing actuators I6 (and I6-B, shown in dotted lines) both engageable at the top surface of the blade I which may have the rear extension IA, the actuator IBA may be omitted.

Of course, the structure of the blade I, illustrated as having marginally positioned compression arms 3-4 and a central tension arm I, is susceptible of change wherein the tension member may be the familiar blade with an elongated opening therethrough within which a tongue provides the compression member.

I claim:

1. A switch blade associated with a base support and comprising a cantilever type of tension member having a free extremity and a portion engageable by an actuator for assisting the movement of said free extremity from one to another of relatively spaced stops provided by said base; substantially wide transversal extensions provided by said tension member at the rear thereof, each of said extensions being secured upon one of two pedestals provided by said base support and each extension having a neck of lesser width than that of said extensions to provide for said tension member a weakened twistable connection between said pedestals; a. reinforcing rib formation at said tension member and extending longitudinally therewith in both directions beyond said weakened connection; and compression arms, each having an end carried adjacent the forward end of said tension member and a rear end held under compression by a portion of said supporting base intermediate the length'of said tension member, said compression arms thus held having looped portions out of the plane of said tension member, an acting engagement by said actuator distorting the tension member as the cantilever force overcomes the compression arms and snaps the said free extremity of the tension member from one to the other of said stops.

2. A switch blade associated with a base and comprising a cantilever type thereof providing a tension member having a free extremity and a portion engageable by an actuator for assisting the movement of said free extremity from one to another of relatively spaced stops provided by said base; transversally extended portions provided by said tension member at the rear thereof, each of said extended portions being secured to one of spaced apart portions of said base; and compression arms, each having an end carried ad- Jacent the forward end of said tension member and a rear end held under compression by oneof said spaced apart base portions intermediate the length of said tension member, said compression arms thus held having looped portions out of the plane of said tension member, an acting engagement by said actuator distorting the tension member as the cantilever force overcomes the compression arms and snaps the tree extremity of the tension member-from one to the other of said stops.

3. A switch blade associated witha base and comprising acantilever type thereof providing a tension member having a free extremity and a portion enzageable by an actuator for the movement of said free extremity from one to another of relatively spaced stops provided by said base; transversally extended portions provided by said tension member at the rear thereof. each of said extended portions bein's secured to oneoi'spacedapartportionsofsaidbase; anda compression arm having an end carried by the forward end '01 said tension member and a rear end held under compression by a forwardly extending portion of said'base intermediate the length of said tension member, said compression arm having a looped portion out of the plane or said tension member, an acting engagement by said actuator distorting the tension member as the cantilever force overcomes the compression arm and snaps the'free end of the tension member from one to the other of said stops.

EDWIN AUGUST MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of, record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name 1 Date 2,172,673 Eaton Sept. 12, 1939 2,266,537 Elmer Dec. 16, 1941 2,348,982 Joyce May 16,1944 2,358,658 Riche et a1; Sept. 19, 1944 2,337,089 Peterson et a1. Oct. 16, 1945 2,417,652 Kunzier Mar. 18, 1947 

